34th Birthday Marks Potential Return to Practice for QB Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is right on track for his target return date of Dec. 17 against the Carolina Panthers.

His last hurdle -- but definitely not his biggest -- came Friday when he had a workout for the coaches to evaluate where he is in his rehab process before allowing him to fully practice.

According to head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday, Rodgers is more than likely going to practice Saturday with the expectation that there won't be any setbacks in his recovery.

"We're looking tomorrow to potentially practice him in a trial return," McCarthy said Friday morning. "That's the outlook. We'll determine that tomorrow after his work today."

Rodgers had surgery to repair the broken clavicle in his throwing shoulder on Oct. 19, leading to his arrival on injured reserve just a day after. 13 screws and two plates later, he's looking as good as new. At least according to teammate Clay Matthews, who went on the record during the week of saying the Packers shouldn't have put Rodgers on IR given how good he looks.

Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20. Teams are allowed two IR-to-return designations per season now, and they already used their first one on offensive tackle Jason Spriggs after starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga was shut down for the rest of the year with a torn ACL.

Barring anything crazy, Rodgers is expected to be the Packers' second IR designation, but that won't be for another couple of weeks.

"He's good," said quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, who has been with the team since 2012, but held his current job title since 2014. "He's progressing, he's doing well. You saw him throw out there in Pittsburgh and he's doing well. He's getting healthy and he's falling right along with the rehab, probably even ahead of the curve a little bit. But, there's not really anything to talk about until there's something to talk about, I guess."

Per the rules of IR, a player must remain there for eight weeks, making Rodgers eligible to return in week 15. He is, however, eligible to practice after six weeks. Coincidentally, his first practice back with the team will fall on Dec. 2, his 34th birthday.

The Packers must win their upcoming game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the following week against the Cleveland Browns for there to be any discussion about Rodgers potentially returning this season. His collarbone won't be 100 percent healed until six months post-surgery, according to Dr. David Chao, MD.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (7)

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4thand1's picture

December 02, 2017 at 09:19 am

I hope they lose one of these next 2 games. It's the only way things will change,

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Since'61's picture

December 02, 2017 at 09:36 am

If his collarbone will not be 100% until 6 months post surgery why should he come back this season? To prop up the league's sagging TV ratings or boost Jersey sales?

Why should he be cleared to play if he is not 100%? It sounds wrong and unnecessary to me. Thanks, Since '61

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

December 03, 2017 at 02:39 am

I gather the healing process isn't a straight line progression. Full healing might take 6 months, but the bulk of the healing is done much earlier. AR has access to his own doctors and to his agent.

Moreover, AR is in line for a $55M signing bonus and a $140M contract, much of which, maybe all of which, he is likely to earn. I think AR will consider things carefully.

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4thand1's picture

December 02, 2017 at 09:39 am

Look at the picture of AR with MM standing in the background. Rodgers has a smirk on his face. Is he thinking, should I come back and save some jobs?

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NickPerry's picture

December 02, 2017 at 09:46 am

"His collarbone won't be 100 percent healed until six months post-surgery, according to Dr. David Chao, MD."

Then IMO it just isn't worth it. I mean why risk it? This O-Line is a far cry from the O-Lines we've had the last few years. Before the injury Rodgers was getting hammered just about every game. Bringing him back against the D-Line Carolina just isn't smart.

The Packers have proven beyond a shadow of doubt this "Team" just isn't very good. The O-Line is average at best, actually below average with Spriggs at RT. The WR group with the exception of Adams and a few plays by Cobb has all but disappeared since Rodgers went down. As bummed out as I am to say it, Nelson is nothing without Rodgers anymore. Cobb hasn't given us anything since he got paid, and the TE group is pretty bad as a whole. Now Montgomery is on IR and Jones still isn't 100%. That leaves Williams who basically plays like a 4th round rookie or Mays who just fumbles when he plays.

WHY in the hell would or better yet should Rodgers come back to that? The ONLY thing that happens is he masks all those deficiencies again and they get smoked IF they make the playoffs.

It's time to look ahead to 2018. Maybe not mathematically but IT's TIME. Give Rodgers that 6 months to completely heal 100% and PUT a TEAM around him.

I doubt Ted is going anywhere which means MM will be here in 2018 too. But in NO WAY should Capers be retained. Even Thompson and McCarthy, as blind as they are should be able to see that too. WOW....Won a SB at 27 and he's turning 34 today. Such a waste of a guy actually being debated as GOAT.

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HankScorpio's picture

December 02, 2017 at 10:38 am

He's playing in 2017.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

December 02, 2017 at 12:58 pm

Rogers is getting Older and older folks

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